I just put the Hoodman HoodCrane on my 7D and I am pleased to report that it works as advertised. Easy to connect and adjust. Blocks out almost all the lite around the LCD and most importantly, the picture is crystal clear. I was afraid that the lens would show the LCD so closely that it would just look like a blowup of the LCD. That is not the case. It made focusing a breeze and the few shots I took were spot-on.

Phil Hanna

Well, there are several versions of this device, allowing you to mount the Hoodloupe on your cam.

I thought, why waste the flash shoe mount. When you put the Hoodloupe on, you can't use the viewfinder anyway, right? Then why not mount the Hoodloupe on the viewfinder cover.

See pic attached. Total cost $140. The part that slides over the viewfinder is $14 delivered from China, and it actually has TWO similar parts, both of which can be used to attach Hoodloupe. Works great so far.

Link for the part from China?

Here, Leo:

LCD Screen Hood Pop-up Shade Cover O3Q for Canon EOS 7D - eBay (item 320544670361 end time Aug-05-10 19:02:43 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320544670361&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123)

The eyepiece part is basically what you need, you attach Hoodloupe to it and voila - it slides on and off, instead of 7D's stock eyepiece.

Hi Phil,
Thanks for posting and your helpful information. I've just received one and it looks great so far.

What are you shooting?

Regards,
Doug.
www.BaileyNatureGallery.com
[

I got the Hoodcrane when I moved to the 5D recently. The IDCphotogrpahy/Hoodman I had bought for the 7D wouldn't fit on the 5D, so I sold it with the camera. The new Hoodcrane will adjust to fit about any camera. I really like the flipup capability.

I like the Hoodcrane too, but it is difficult to move the spring switch to flip up with one hand. It seems you need to put camera down on something and use two hands.

Have you found a better way?

I have the Hoodman on my 7D. Very happy with it. The only downside is that is shifts a bit and really could use a method to keep it square on the LCD. Other than that surprisingly clear and accurate.

Phil

It's a little tricky to get properly aligned, but when you do and everything is tightened down, it shouldn't shift.

Here is my H-Finder made from my Hoodman Hoodloupe 3.0 + HoodEye 3.0 + eBay LCD cover and glue.

Total cost $130.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=19172&stc=1&d=1282154686

Alan, did you find a better alternative to the stock lens in Houdloupe?

I wear +1.5 glasses, and when I adjust the Houdloupe lens for my eye (without glasses), I get the blurred perimeter effect as others complain about.

(Looks like people who say there is no such aberration, are the ones who do not make such adjustment - in which case, in fact, there is no blur on the edges of the screen.)

Alex, I also wear glasses and I am using the stock glass in the HoodLoupe. I don't have any problems. The edges are a little soft but that was true for the Z-Finder.

Do you wear glasses while using Houd?

Also... when I press my eye against the HoudEye's rubber cup real tight (which is intended use to prevent light leaks), the lens get condensation very fast.

I know it is summer and all, but I can't recall such thing with my Sony cam. (Admittedly, it's been years since I used an eyepiece on video camera... so maybe I don't recall it right... but am pretty sure there were no issues.)

Is that a design flaw in HoodEye?

Yes, I do wear glasses all the time. We are not humid here so I don't about condensation. I have not had any. Works Great! alan

Oh. I could not do that - glasses prevent me from pressing my eye against the cup to seal off the light...

Maybe contact lenses would help, but I don't have any.